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This Is How My Brain Works
This Is How My Brain Works episodes
- 15: Planes, Trains & Automobiles - Mega Planner or Anxious Mess?
Do you get anxious when you're about to disembark a plane, obsessing about how you're going to wrangle your carry on baggage so you're not in someone else's way? Or is that just being "well-prepared". How about traveling in general? Or when you're at a stop light with several cars and someone approaches you to wash your windows? We discuss how anxiety co-occurs with neurodiversity and the challenge of being more positive. Please make sure your seats and tray tables are in an upright position as we explore another episode of This Is How My Brain Works!
Hosts: Krista Gano, Sarah Hines, Jason Rudofsky and Michael CollinsWe’re a group of GenXers who learned about our ADHD and neurodiversity later in life. Join us as we discuss interesting clips we find online and how they relate to our own life experiences.Please note: While we are advocates for for mental health awareness, we are not mental health professionals. The purpose of our podcast is to help other neurodiverse people by sharing our own experiences, as well as tools and resources we have found valuable to us.Special thanks to @zoltancomedy for the clip! Check out more from Zoltan: https://www.youtube.com/@zoltancomedy#adhdmanagement #adhd #audhd #travel #anxiety #neurodiversity #neurospicyRecorded on 4/26/2432 min - 14: Shake it off - ADHD Misconceptions in Adulthood
Shake it off - ADHD Misconceptions in AdulthoodHosts: Krista Gano, Sarah Hines, Jason Rudofsky and Michael CollinsWe’re a group of GenXers who learned about our ADHD and neurodiversity later in life. Join us as we discuss interesting clips we find online and how they relate to our own life experiences. Welcome to This Is How My Brain Works!
Special thanks to @MedCircle for the clip. Here's the full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8J4wl9eUe4#adhd #neurodiversity #neurospicy #adhdmanagement #audhd Please note: While we are advocates for for mental health awareness, we are not mental health professionals. The purpose of our podcast is to help other neurodiverse people by sharing our own experiences, as well as tools and resources we have found valuable to us.This episode was recorded on 4/12/24.35 min - 13: How Can I Get My Kid To Sit Still?! Neuro-affirming Tips from expert @speechdude
This is How My Brain Works
How Can I Get My Kid To Sit Still?!Neuro-affirming Tips from expert @speechdudeWe’re a group of GenXers who learned about our ADHD and neurodiversity later in life. Join us as we discuss interesting clips we find online and how they relate to our own life experiences. Welcome to This Is How My Brain Works!Please note: While we are advocates for for mental health awareness, we are not mental health professionals. The purpose of our podcast is to help other neurodiverse people by sharing our own experiences, as well as tools and resources we have found valuable to us.Link to featured clip: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4KD1lTLq31/Chris Wenger - Neurodivergent Speech Therapist@SpeechDudeRecorded on 4/5/24#adhd #neurospicy #audhd #adhdmanagementWe’re a group of GenXers who learned about our ADHD and neurodiversity later in life. Join us as we discuss interesting clips we find online and how they relate to our own life experiences. Welcome to This Is How My Brain Works!
Please note: While we are advocates for for mental health awareness, we are not mental health professionals. The purpose of our podcast is to help other neurodiverse people by sharing our own experiences, as well as tools and resources we have found valuable to us.33 min - 12. Be Still and Meditate. Yeah, Right! Kids Teach Us About Effects of Meditation on the ADHD Mind
This Is How My Brain Works
Be Still and Meditate. Yeah, Right! Kids Teach Us About Effects of Meditation on the ADHD MindWe’re a group of GenXers who learned about our ADHD and neurodiversity later in life. We discuss interesting clips we find online and how they relate to our own life experiences.
In this episode, we start with a clip that features students learning to overcome some of the challenges of ADHD by learning to meditate. A discussion about our personal experiences with ADHD and meditation follows.
#ADHD #ADHDSkills #AuDHD #Neurodivergent #Meditation
Please note: While we are advocates for for mental health awareness, we are not mental health professionals. The purpose of our podcast is to help other neurodiverse people by sharing our own experiences, as well as tools and resources we have found valuable to us.
Clip from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOiGm-X8cak@DavidLynchFoundationThis episode was recorded on March 15, 202430 min - 11. "People Are My Special Interest" -- How Neurodivergence Really Shows Up
This Is How My Brain Works
"People Are My Special Interest" -- How Neurodivergence Really Shows Up#ADHD #auDHD #SpecialInterestKrista brings a video from Method Creative. Here, Lindsey Mackereth blows Krista's mind when she says that some autistic people have People as their Special Interest. There's an idea that if you're autistic you want to be by yourself. For some, people are part of their hyperfocus.As actors, the team acknowledges that the study of humans is the name of the game. Perhaps all actors are autistic and deserve PhDs in Human Relationships. Krista describes always studying the humans around her. She could be at the center of a party with every appropriate interaction occurring and inside she would be studying to make sure she was "humaning" correctly.Michael recalls being shy as a child. His slow-to-warm-up style maybe linked to a need to study the situation and mask appropriately. Krista shares another gem from Lindsey Mackereth, "How much does this person deserve to know the real me?"Rudy explains that he has hit the sweet spot at work of sharing enough about himself to get along with his coworkers but not so much that it would change their perception of him. "Would it change the way they interact with me if they knew X, Y, or Z?"And that is why every single human masks; it's called polite society.Recorded on 3/15/24Link to CLIP: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4BF3FRrcJe/Thanks to Lindsey Mackereth, MA, LPCC, LADC. You can find out more about Lindsey and Neurocomplexity @Method.Creative.MPLS or also https://linktr.ee/MethodcreativeMethod Creative defines Neurocomplexity as"the intersection of neurodivergent wiring that includes increased complexity in the areas of cognition, sensory receptivity, attention, creativity, and/or intuition." (Mackereth, 2023)#MySpecialInterestIsPeople #ProSocial #WhyDoIFeelSoDifferent #ThatRightThereIsTheAutism #StudyingPeople #HumanCondition #Neurocomplexity #ItsCalledPoliteSociety32 min - 32 min
- 9. “Where are my keys?!?” 5 Tips You Can Use to Improve Your Neurodivergent Relationship
This Is How My Brain Works
“Where are my keys?!?” 5 Tips You Can Use to Improve Your Neurodivergent Relationship#ADHD #ADHDRelationships #ADHDandTouchJason’s clip is by Neuro-Nush about 5 ways to improve your relationship with neurodivergent people. In the video, Annushka opens by congratulating people who've chosen neurospicy partners ("the most elite person you can choose") and offers to help you understand your neurodivergent partner better with the following 5 techniques:1) Gratification & Tactile Technique, which addresses RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria, where the tiniest thing makes an ADHDer feel stabbed thru the hear) by noticing and applauding their achievements and take any opportunity you can to touch your partner,2) Offer to Help when you see them struggling or feeling overwhelmed,3) Respect the Routine, basically don't rush them thru or interrupt them as they are getting through their morning ritual or other routine,4) Give Them Space, like, "You seem stressed, do you want to take a moment in your room?" and5) Tactile Tactic is when you're explaining something you need them to understand and it seems like they're not giving their attention, hold their hand, look deep in their eyes, they'll listen.Rudy opens the discussion by recognizing how important it has been for him to understand himself (Hey, this *is* how my brain works!), accepting himself as he is and how he shows up in his relationships, and asking for what he needs. Consequently, his partner has done the same. He's now able to make light of some of the things he does. To be honest, until the ADHDer is comfortable sharing their struggles, they're masking in their relationships. He explains he doesn't want to be seen as someone who, for example, can't find their keys. "You're an adult, you're supposed to be someone who knows where everything is.Michael responds that there's a period in the relationship (somewhere between the start and the end, Krista jokes) where acceptance hasn't happened yet. Initially, the non-ADHDer thinks their partner is being lazy, making excuses, and once they get on board with the fact that ADHD is an actual thing, they are more likely to use the tools that NeuroNush was talking about. Because the affection, the patting on the back, that stuff is huge for Michael. He responds immensely to the tactile gratification, which reduces his feelings of shame and amps up his feeling of acceptance.Krista jumps in that tactile tactics don't work for everyone, she resonates much more with the idea of getting space and with respect for her routine. Knowing your partner is key to using the right tactic at the right time. Krista shares an anecdote about her routine being interrupted one morning. As she tries to quickly finish step #3 Fill The Ice Trays, she drops the whole thing and start to melt down. Her kid says, "You know you could just ask for help," to which she said, "No, I can't, not when I'm flooded. I don't know how." She realizes this was one of the first time she was able to put into words.Sarah shares that a lot of this sounds like a movement from self-criticism and blame (aka judgment) to curiosity. She and Krista both can react badly to touch when they are flooded, but when their partners are curious about why that hand to their back caused them to flinch or yelp, then they can share that what they really need is a moment alone to re-regulate.Recorded on 3/8/24Link to CLIP: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuronush/video/7239325930072575259Thanks to NeuroNush, NUSH short for Annushka, who is an ADHD & mental health content creator and motivational speaker. Find her on Instagram and TikTok where she shares videos and supports including ADHD Supplements and ADHD Sensory Clothing.#ContentCreator #AxleSpinning #NeedToFillThatIce #IHearWithEarsNotWithEyes #SayThatAgainInAMoreInterestingWay #MeaningfulEyeContact #ADHDersHaveBigIdeas #YoullRememberYouPutThatHere #PeoplePleasers33 min - 8. “What Am I Masking?” — Self Diagnosis Is Valid AF
This Is How My Brain Works
"What Am I Masking?" – Self Diagnosis Is Valid AF#ADHD #ADHDHyperfocus #ADHDInattentionSarah shares a video from @AllForTheDopamine about self diagnosis for autism. In this video by Adrienne Marcellis explains that many people with autism have cycled through a number of diagnoses and medication plans to no avail. And then they learn about autism and have that "aha" moment. Adrienne goes on to say that it's the rare individual who "self-diagnoses" for attention. They encourage anyone who thinks they may have autism to get tested so they don't misdiagnose themselves and miss out on effective supports.Sarah brought this video because she still isn't sure what her special flavor of neurodivergence is but has found great relief from learning about both autism and how ADHD presents differently in women.Krista raises the issue of self-diagnosis as a parent with a child who doesn't use the autistic label and prefers the term neurospicy. She talks about how this next generation of neurodivergent people views masking differently and doesn't rely on it in the same way. Everyone masks, neurospicy or not, as an expression of social norms like letting the elderly person cut in front of you in line even when you may not be feeling it.In the end, it's about knowing ourselves and how to integrate into the world.Recorded on 03/08/24.Link to CLIP: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3di3zpvj_j/Thanks to Adrienne Marcellis who is an Autism, ADHD, OCD Specialist. You can find them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/allforthedopamine/ They also have a workbook for people with autism called "Mastering Monstrous Moments: Skills for Autistic Overwhelm"(link to purchase https://175183-2.myshopify.com/products/mastering-monstrous-moments-skills-for-autistic-overwhelm )#BarbieForPresident #ImWithMyselfAllTheTimeItTurnsOut #Neurospicy #Neurotypical #Masking #WhatAmIMasking #Labels #StartAccommodating #SelfAssessment #WhatIsWrongWithMe #ADHDLateDiagnosis #SocialCues31 min - 7. Is a 100-Year Old Test the Best We Can Do? Bender-Gestalt, Still the Go-To Neuropsychological Assessment
This Is How My Brain Works
Is a 100-Year Old Test the Best We Can Do? Bender-Gestalt, Still the Go-To Neuropsychological AssessmentRudy shares a clip by John Bosworth about the adult ADHD test. John explains the Bender Gestalt Test and the Conners Rating Scale for Parents and Teachers. The Bender Gestalt is a series of nine index cards with different geometric designs used to assess the neurobehavioral and neuropsychological functioning in individuals aged 3 and up. The Conners Rating Scale is completed by the people around the person being assessed, like teachers, coworkers and family. The professional then compares these checklists to determine if the individual is showing signs of neurodivergence.Rudy starts the conversation by lamenting that we are using a 100-year-old test that relies on outside observation of the person. "What is he talking about??" Rudy asks. In essence, there's a lot we still don't know about ADHD. Though Rudy was diagnosed in childhood, he doesn't remember taking a test with geometric designs. He goes on to say that the terminology of the test is "brain damage," a term that might not be used today and certainly isn't fun to hear as someone with ADHD.Michael took the test as an adult to understand his type of ADHD and to get the exact tools he needs to navigate the neurotypical world. Part of the test Michael took asked him to recreate an isometric design. He was able to do it, and recreate the design later from memory, but the assessor said that how he did it was very different than a neurotypical brain. Neurotypicals would do it in a logical way, quadrant by quadrant, while his approach was more scattershot.Krista thinks the Bender Gestalt sounds a lot like a test for Gifted and Talented kids. She also wonders how accurate the test is when it is run through someone else's perception and possibly that observer is neurotypical. How precise can the test be when it's run through the lens of what is right, wrong, normal or not. She says, "That seems faulty on a lot of levels."Sarah says there's no way they'd catch her with ADHD if she knew she was being observed. Her mask would come all the way up, and a quick google search confirms how difficult diagnosis can be when it relies on external observations. Specifically, misdiagnosis can happen in individuals with a high IQ and ADHD. Smart, highly active kids are sometimes misdiagnosed with ADHD. On the flip side, highly intelligent children with ADHD can hyperfocus, causing experts to miss their ADHD.Looking ahead, functional MRIs are a promising tool to diagnose a person's specific flavor of neurodivergence, but as of now brain scans cannot diagnose ADHD. Overall, the team was shocked by how antiquated and unspecific the tests sound though they acknowledged that professionals might explain that these tests aren't as nefarious as they sound. The tests likely collect a range of information that allows experts to get a measure of how the person's brain works.Recorded on 2/16/24Link to CLIP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhJWKivVxo0Thanks to John J. Bosworth, MA, LMHC. He is a licensed mental health counselor who specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, chronic pain and stress management. You can find out more about his practice at https://bozcounseling.com/#ADHD #ADHDTesting #BenderVisualMotorGestalt #ADHDBehavioralChecklist#CantCatchMeImTheADHDBrain #BenderGestalt #ConnersRatingScale #fMRI #Observation #Epilepsy #CatchAllTest #ADHDDiagnosis #NeuroSpicy #WeAllDoItDifferentlyAndNobodyIsSpecial32 min - 6. "The Inappropriate Overshare" – Balancing Masking and Authenticity in Friendship
"The Inappropriate Overshare" – Balancing Masking and Authenticity in Friendship
Sarah takes a neurodivergent detour into Autism and Friendship with a video by Morgan Foley, @morgaanfoley. In this clip Morgan explains how she realized that neurotypical friendship is about "constant communication." She thought, "once a friend, always a friend," and couldn't understand how friendships kept ending. But for her, she doesn't want to be constantly communicating, "that's exhausting." Her autistic brain values "understanding."Krista asks the team, "Do you like the beginning of the party or the end of the party?" Everyone acknowledges they like the end. The superficial part is out of the way and everyone is real (maybe because they're all socially lubricated?).Krista doesn't love small talk, which feels labor intensive, and sometimes that leads to the "Inappropriate Overshare." But just because small talk is hard that doesn't mean it doesn't have value for other people. Some people need small talk to feel connected and open up. Masking is the gift that we have to give to someone else to be in relation with them.Rudy explores his take on friendship. He can go decades without seeing friends but when he sees them, it's like no time has passed. Yet, as a people pleaser, he avoids being direct because his brain leaps to all the possible harm he might cause to the other person.Michael discusses the different parts of himself, like the "Protector" that doesn't allow him to say what he feels in case he is rejected. Michael explains his struggle to thread the needle between internalized shame and being vulnerable in social situations. The goal is to have the courage to allow the authentic self to exist while being self-aware of the insecurities that act like brakes.Krista says her "Protector" shows up after the fact. The time is spent either way, in the moment people pleasing or afterwards in the perseveration.As an aside, the team talks body doubling and what that actually means: Is it a way to regulate emotions? Does it ground the neurodivergent brain? What is actually going on?Recorded on 2/16/24Link to clip: https://www.instagram.com/p/C12DSRYO0ea/Thanks to Morgan Foley, she/her, who "likes to talk about autism stuff." You can find her on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube by going to her linktree, https://linktr.ee/autismidentity#ADHD #ADHDFriends #auDHD #ADHDAutistic #BeautyOfSelfDiagnosis #ADHDSelfDiagnosis #InappropriateOvershare #HowsYourScrotum #SmallTalk #DeepThoughts #DeepThoughtsWithADHD #Spectrum #BodyDoubling #Grounding #DontBodyDoubleMe #EnergeticFulcrum #MyElfHelper #AccountabilityPartner #LinusesBlanket #Lubrication #PowderedMilkIsAwkward #ZoomMustache #BalancePeoplePleasingAndAuthenticity #NeurodivergentMasking #PolicingMyReactions #PolicingTheirReactions #ADHDShame #YoureTooMuch #YoureNotEnough #FearIsTheMindKiller #AIMustache #FrenchTickler #InappropriateComments #Overshare34 min
About This Is How My Brain Works
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We're a group of GenXers learning about our ADHD and neurodiversity later in life. Join us as we discuss interesting clips we find online and how they relate to our own life experiences. Welcome to…
This Is How My Brain Works!